How does the increase in blog readers and writers affect the Navy? I can think of several reasons why blogs are good and bad for the Navy.

The Good:
â€˘ Users can write anonymously. When a sailor comments on a blog post from ADM X and chooses to do so anonymously, that sailor isnâ€™t responding to advance his career or curry favor with the brass. He writes because he believes he has a good idea. If he writes well, his idea may induce change.
â€˘ High ranking officers can receive feedback instantaneously from all levels of the chain of command. In McCainâ€™s book â€śFaith of My Fathers,â€ť McCain lauded how his father, ADM McCain, had his staff meet one on one with low ranking sailors to elicit these sailorsâ€™ opinions. Now, any high ranking officer can post on his blog and receive comments from anyone with a computer and the impetus to write.
â€˘ When anybody can post anything, anytime, and anywhere, little is secret. I think blogs amplify the CNN effect. Everyone will follow the regulations a little closer knowing that his actions could be reported (anonymously) on a blog.

The Bad:
â€˘ Users can write anonymously. Without knowing a writerâ€™s background, you canâ€™t verify his experiences. A recent Economist article discussed how this anonymity allows people to fabricate facts and events on blogs for â€śLOLs.â€ť Other (non-Navy) blogs have begun linking blog posts to the userâ€™s Facebook accounts. While linking blog posts to Facebook accounts eliminates anonymityâ€™s positive effects, the blogs using this new technology have seen a decrease in the quantity of blog posts and an increase in quality.
â€˘ When anybody can post anything, anytime, and anywhere, little is secret. I donâ€™t pretend to have any data or statistics on this, but I do know that everyone makes mistakes. More chances to write oneâ€™s opinion means more chances to leak classified ship movements or operations into the world-wide-web.
â€˘ Blogs promotes the idea that itâ€™s okay to question authority. Yes, itâ€™s great to get feedback, but, in the end, the commanding officer is in charge. If sailors become accustomed to questioning orders on a blog, whether those orders came from LT Y or POTUS, then the hierarchical military structure breaks down. Knowing that his decisions could be posted online for the world to see could distort a commanderâ€™s judgment.

Like any change there are positive and negative effects. What really matters is how we as a Navy counter the negative effects.

While not a blog, I’m a fan of PERS-42 on Facebook. This office is the authority for everything submarine officer related. Updates on career opportunities, assignments, and admin details are accessible from Facebook these days! Really this is just a big “plus” al around as the Navy is engaging its people on their turf!

YN2(SW) H. Lucien Gauthier III

“Chance favors the connected mind.”

YN2(SW) H. Lucien Gauthier III

I would saying being an anon blogger is a good thing, actually. I lurked as an anon for a long time before I was confident enough to post under my real name.

Being an anon blogging allows a person to not fear being wrong in their opinion. It also allows someone not as accomplished in title feel that they can come to the discussion and not be readily dismissed. Ask any CO about their CO’s suggestion box.

Training is key in terms of OP/INFOSEC. The only reason why flag officers don’t routinely divulge classified information despite their constant engagement is the training they’ve had. There’s little reason why the same cannot be done for the lower ranks (yes, I know that a flag has been in for 30+ years. Where as junior personnel haven’t).

Blogs do not promote “the idea that itâ€™s okay to question authority”. They promote dialog and discourse. I’ve never served with an officer that had a problem with me asking questions to better understand their intentions. I’ve also never served with a Sailor-blogger who would question authority. In my case, when I was anonymous across various Naval blogs I was even more careful not to let anyone know that I commented frequently and was given guest spots occasionally. A person matures through experience. Blogging only serves to increase the experience that a person has in engaging with others — I do not see how that can lead to an increase in insubordination. If anything, it increases the maturity of the blogger.